assumption were held, a positive external effect of a proposed merger would represent a sufficient condition to allow the merger … theory, moreover, demonstrates that privately unprofitable mergers can be the result of rational action. Therefore, we drop … this restrictive assumption and allow for unprofitable mergers to occur. This exerts a considerable impact on merger policy …

mergers. If this assumption held, a positive external effect of a proposed merger would represent a sufficient condition to … allow the merger. However, the empirical picture on mergers and acquisitions reveals a significant share of unprofitable … mergers and economic theory, moreover, demonstrates that privately unprofitable mergers can be the result of rational action …

transitions to a market structure where only a handful dominate. The antitrust implications of our paper pertain to the causes of …